Inside Politics: Intel director takes step to stop classified leaks

The director of national intelligence is announcing two steps to avert leaks of classified information after recent disclosures about national security.

James R. Clapper said Monday that a question related to unauthorized disclosure of classified information would be added to the polygraph test used by intelligence agencies.

Mr. Clapper also said the inspector general for the intelligence community would lead any independent investigations that the Justice Department declines.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. has asked two U.S. attorneys to lead a Justice inquiry into the leaks.

LITIGATION

Kochs, Cato Institute ready to end lawsuits

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Cato Institute and billionaire shareholders Charles and David Koch announced Monday that they are close to settling two lawsuits brought by the prominent political donor brothers in their native Kansas over the ownership of the libertarian-leaning think tank based in Washington.

The parties announced they have an “agreement in principle” that would restructure the institute, a research organization that promotes free-market, small-government policies. The Cato Institute would get a new CEO within six months; it would be governed by member directors; and it would no longer have shareholders. Charles Koch would no longer be a director, but David Koch would remain one.

The Koch brothers, known nationally for supporting conservative causes and candidates, are longtime shareholders in the institute.

The agreement would mean the departure of Ed Crane, who has been CEO for more than three decades. John Allison, the former chief executive officer of BB&T Corp., the banking and financial holding company based in Winston-Salem, N.C., will replace him.

Showing concern over President Obama’s recent gaffe that the private sector was “doing fine,” the Obama campaign released a new ad Monday in nine battleground states reinforcing the president’s belief that more needs to be done to improve the economy.

The television ad begins with a narrator telling viewers about the president, “He’s fought to pull us out of economic crisis for three years — and he still is.”